[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6346895,"mediaKeyId","2246328-6f126d05f5c3633a659f2d442faf8b98","parentId",2246328,"title","ZBA recommends two special-use permits at 2506 Shaw Road for farm products market and equipment service","audioSeconds",560,"startMs",7325000,"endMs",7885000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246328-6f126d05f5c3633a659f2d442faf8b98&start=7325&end=7885","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246328-6f126d05f5c3633a659f2d442faf8b98/thumbnail_7325000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6346895/Lee-County/Illinois/ZBA-recommends-two-special-use-permits-at-2506-Shaw-Road-for-farm-products-market-and-equipment-service","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346895-ccefb0988c4e56cf19a2dd9d7bd7f66e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176583&Signature=S3J6DwCAOmH1dXFImibpymXvmKW~cEpGBcuLwKrGU2FlL4xoY9rRzn0ZbQ4wa6hHe0hZNsPLoVNJS46kLn1nRv0zlcAfyrKBAkbVb3yd-C0hjGprkWZ62W22wjbAAerjQXLL3GrxayMRtofweh2u7RO7tsBz4yyUeBkEzvqQN68agGsBwc3TJG8N79~1sf6UENPcTqJG6y3kYw0UUz~E8l6yQ7LLIWxSOsGcN2SWEGi0mjwFukJmwzP37RWhXuk7atyNg~LtVoJ2rNBTK5coIOkJy0eY7gMF-~2t9LwbLwTi-KUb5cOqKkDNozF6SSbJi5BaL3Ctg3JiSobmsGL9vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lee County, IL","date","2025-02-07T00:01:31Z","article","The Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals on Feb. 6 recommended approval of two special-use petitions for property at 2506 Shaw Road in West Brooklyn. Petition 24-E-1636 asked to permit farm-product processing, packaging and distribution (a small farm-stand/farmers market and soap/lotion production). Petition 24-E-1637 asked to permit farm equipment and machinery sales and service in an on-site shop.

Applicants explained the front building would house a small retail operation selling goat-milk soap, lotion and other local goods, and that occasional petting-zoo visits by goats were possible but the animals would not be kept overnight at the retail building. The applicant said the lotion-making process uses pasteurized milk handling for lotion production and that soap manufacture involves heating and blending oils and milk; staff and board discussed the presence of a kitchen area in the building and that the property has well and septic capacity.

For the equipment-service petition, the applicant — who works at a local tractor dealer — said the shop (roughly 50-by-80 feet, by testimony) would be used for repair of his equipment and occasional repair work for other customers. Board members noted the site had previously housed a roadside service business and that driveway dimensions and sightlines are adequate for expected traffic.

After hearing testimony and reviewing exhibits, the Zoning Board voted to recommend both special-use permits to the County Board. The board recorded motions finding no significant adverse effects on traffic, utilities, public health, safety, environmental concerns or surrounding properties for either petition and approved forwarding both petitions to the County Board for final action. The board did not add specific operating-hours conditions; petitioners said market hours would likely be weekend-focused (Thursdays–Sundays, with occasional holiday hours).

Ending: Both petitions will appear on the Lee County Board agenda on Feb. 20; staff included published notice and petitioner exhibits in the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals - 02/06/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals voted Feb. 6 to recommend two special-use permits at 2506 Shaw Road allowing a small farm-product retail/processing use (including goat-milk soap) and limited farm equipment service in an existing shop.","taxTitle","Lee County, Illinois","taxId",58219,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346901,"Lee County ZBA recommends denial of variance for Forest Park Drive accessory building after tied vote",4039,121000,4160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246328-6f126d05f5c3633a659f2d442faf8b98&start=121&end=4160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246328-6f126d05f5c3633a659f2d442faf8b98/thumbnail_121000.jpg","/articles/6346901/Lee-County/Illinois/Lee-County-ZBA-recommends-denial-of-variance-for-Forest-Park-Drive-accessory-building-after-tied-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346901-bb2c4bbb5dd6652606a75c148e21c4e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176583&Signature=JP-v1zq5LDNRthC9BytLoAZB3hF5yL-XPtUNRLcuiz2WotEmFEnREpgI8GxLgYoA2mEoDoFrsCsuXFEymsJ9d4rXX3YweJq7-vMLpv6FLPIzRcivy7OkJHzuA9DUEffwADTM97dSYGEjo5vwxSYWrC0J~GGuG9ACCPkCT8qAlWFF1Ds8UMSW6Gf47XguqlSsaUwyIrC9mH6tIsALbm9LJIirvK9M1sNNnMCgTYk8sHPjgSfesC2yI6b~3S4Oww1M7t3x4EH~NpCHtC1Cr7kLANmRD9AOIyeSjj~UbqiFSKAH89KvJzRbBMVgkVbTC-dYiT4TzptoAVT38L~g1YoqDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals on Feb. 6 reviewed a petition from property owner Jeffrey A. Lewis seeking a variance from the county bulk regulations to add a protective structure near his garage at 763 Forest Park Drive in Dixon Township.

Board staff described constraints on the parcel, including a FEMA-designated floodway and an on-site septic system that limit buildable area. Alice Nicole, a staff member of the Lee County Zoning Office, told the board that “projects located in FEMA floodways must either complete a no rise certificate... or go through the conditional letter of map revision process,” and that the hydraulic and hydrologic study used to support a no-rise certification can cost about $10,000 and that the IDNR map-revision process can take up to a year.

Lewis, sworn to give testimony, said he wanted “to put some sort of protective structure over personal assets, whether it’s a boat, a trailer, a car, a vehicle,” and described repeated damage to his property from fallen trees and debris on adjacent land. He said he had poured a concrete pad in 2024 and that a small portion of that pad—about 2 5/8 inches across a 14-inch section—encroached onto the neighbor’s land and would be cut back when weather permits.

Courtney Kennedy, an attorney representing adjacent property owners Steve and Tamara Reuter, opposed the variance. She told the board, “It is our position that Mr. Lewis has not demonstrated that the topography presents an unbearable burden that prevents the reasonable use of his property,” adding the Reuter family believes the request is a matter of convenience rather than necessity and that restrictive covenants apply to the subdivision.

The board ran through the required findings of fact and debated whether the applicant had shown a demonstrable hardship or only convenience. Board members repeatedly voted on individual findings (traffic, utilities, public welfare, effects on surrounding properties, environmental concerns and others). On the final recommendation to the County Board the board’s vote resulted in a tie; by ordinance procedure the Zoning Board recorded that it would forward the petition to the Lee County Board with a recommendation to deny because the board was evenly split.

Although the Zoning Board’s recommendation was to deny, members also identified conditions they would propose should the County Board elect to grant a variance. Those conditions included that any permitted structure must be set one foot from the property line, that the concrete encroachment be cut back to that setback, and that the petitioner comply with any subdivision covenants and restrictions that apply to the property.

The County Board will hear the petition and the Zoning Board’s recommendation at its next meeting on Feb. 20; the Zoning Board noted the County Board has final authority to grant or deny the variance.

Ending: The Zoning Board’s packet included FEMA FIRM excerpts, a staff-recommended finding-of-fact worksheet and photos of the parcel showing the house, garage, septic location and the portion of lawn in the mapped floodway. The petitioner and neighbors were directed to the County Board hearing for the final decision.","The Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals on Feb. 6 reviewed a petition from property owner Jeffrey A. Lewis seeking a variance from county setback rules to build a protective structure at 763 Forest Park Drive in Dixon Township.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6346899,"ZBA recommends rezoning of Stony Point parcels to AG1 for forestry and small-scale chickens",1387,5453000,6840000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246328-6f126d05f5c3633a659f2d442faf8b98&start=5453&end=6840","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246328-6f126d05f5c3633a659f2d442faf8b98/thumbnail_5453000.jpg","/articles/6346899/Lee-County/Illinois/ZBA-recommends-rezoning-of-Stony-Point-parcels-to-AG1-for-forestry-and-small-scale-chickens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6346899-54c897c6c3197c74e42f51ad94013ea4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176583&Signature=mWT4YgsgUK3Rp-OSCO0Qm8MTXQ3~VSOK2D54mlZkDGdb0VEL9LwiYnP8x5mnB8eFHh9RpYG4Z-CGadTW~8teFMpnwcBV-j86D6sn~nBGi-La8NDspjYfQj~qaU9nicLMI6poSbjLzVghNyMAVmQAHppexkFfJsykay9RjZuAGEn5MVm1G8aSqNXm9ZLZ6G2PrCAOX2zKg2XNk8AgsrGioMlaTd1Wgxx4FOrnhOSjW5s35DDNF2-poY~MmvmS3wbCK9Cccryk7w0uujPmqJkVzHhxAZ4VElf0xY94vO5gGOMQZl86UE1QuUUhIfuo90KwcF5kw6Ijs8TzA-st89gk3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals voted Feb. 6 to recommend that four parcels around 905 Stony Point Road in Dixon Township be rezoned from R-2 (single-family residential) to AG-1 (rural agricultural). The petition was filed to regularize existing forestry activity and to permit a small, personal chicken operation.

Petitioner Jake Kastner told the board he is following a forestry management plan for the parcels and said the chicken keeping is intended as a small family homestead use rather than a commercial poultry operation. Staff noted the county code does not list forestry explicitly as an agricultural use but said state statute and assessment practice treat forestry as an agricultural activity. The packet included certified forestry management-plan documents for the four parcels.

Board members reviewed map context and determined each of the four parcels shares a border with existing AG-1 parcels, reducing concerns about spot zoning. Dixon City Council was noted to have considered a related matter and declined to object to the petition. Members voted to recommend approval; during roll call the board recorded unanimous support (four ayes, one member absent).

The Zoning Board recorded affirmative findings on standards the board must consider for a map amendment, including compatibility with nearby uses and the comprehensive plan, minimal effect on surrounding property values and no expected diminution of public health or safety. The petition will be forwarded to the Lee County Board for a final decision; the Zoning Board’s packet indicated the County Board will consider the item on Feb. 20.

Ending: The board noted the parcels total approximately 53 acres in combined ownership and that utility easements and ComEd right-of-way strips are excluded from forestry assessment. The petitioner was advised to follow the forestry-management plan and county regulations for forestry and small livestock.","The Lee County Zoning Board of Appeals voted to recommend that four parcels around 905 Stony Point Road be rezoned from R-2 to AG-1 to accommodate forestry management and a small homestead chicken operation, forwarding the petition to the County Board with a unanimous vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

ZBA recommends two special-use permits at 2506 Shaw Road for farm products market and equipment service

Lee County ZBA recommends denial of variance for Forest Park Drive accessory building after tied vote

ZBA recommends rezoning of Stony Point parcels to AG1 for forestry and small-scale chickens